Massage table



Oct. 10, 1944. H. D. NIBLACK 2,359,933

MASSAGE TABLE Filed Dec. 15, 1941 2 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR. HARM) a MEL/40T- d. m, 1944 H. D. Nl BLACK 2,359,933

' MASSAGE TABLE Filed Dec. 13, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HARLEY A MfiLAC/f. I M I A T T051605).

Patented Oct. 10, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MASSAGE TABLE Harley D. Niblack, Denver, 0010.

Application December 13, 1941, Serial No. 422,856

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a motorized massage table and has for its principal object the provision of a complete and highly eficient table device by means of which any desired portions of the human body can be efficiently massaged.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a massage table which can be regulated to concentrate the massaging action at any desired points on the body; which will, if desired, massage the feet simultaneously with the body; and which will enable the amplitude or intensity of the massaging action to be controlled by the operator.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the improved massage table;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a, cross section, taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar cross section, taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a detail section through one of the massage rollers employed in the improved massage table.

The improved massage table comprises a table frame supported on suitable legs II and provided with an open table top 3| surrounded by a protecting apron 43. Two horizontal, parallel shafts l2 are supported in suitable bearing brackets l3 from the table frame I 0. Each of these shafts carries two fiat belt pulleys l4 and two endless flat belts l extend between the respective pulleys of the adjacent shafts.

A plurality of parallel, roller shafts l6 extend between the two belts l5 and are secured at their extremities thereto. A cylindrical massage roller H is mounted on each shaft l6 intermediate the belts l5, preferably journalled on roller bearings I8 so that they will rotate freely with a minimum of friction.

The upper reaches of the two belts l5 ride on supporting tracks provided with track rollers IS. The tracks under each belt are separated at their middle portions to provide an open space, below which, twopressure wheels 20 are carried. The pressure wheels are supported on the extremities of swinging levers 2| which are fixedly mounted on a cross shaft 22 supported from the frame Ill. The cross shaft may be rotated by means of an adjusting lever 23. Thus, as the adjusting lever 23 is swung to the right, it will act to elevate the pressure wheels 20 causing the belts and their attached rollers to rise as they pass the middle of the table, as shown in broken line in Fig. 2.

The entire series of rollers I! is covered by means of a top sheet 24 of canvas or rubberized fabric or other suitable flexible material. This top sheet is permanently attached adjacent the head extremity of the table, by means of an attachment strip 25, and is secured to and extends round a tension roller 26 adjacent the foot extremity thereof. The tension roller is provided with a suitable crank 21 by means of which it may be rotated to increase or decrease the tension in the sheet 24. A suitable ratchet wheel 28 and ratchet pawl 29 are provided to maintain the sheet 24 at any desired tension. A movable head rest 30 is supported over the sheet 24 at the head extremity of the table.

The belts I5 are driven by means of an electric motor 32 which, through the medium of a drive belt 33, rotates a countershaft 34 at reduced speed. Power is transmitted from the countershaft to one of the shafts l2 through the medium of a suitable V-belt 44. The direction of rotation is such that the massage rollers adjacent the table top move toward the foot thereof.

In use, a patient is placed upon the sheet 24, the latter being preferably covered by an individual, removable, sanitary sheet; the motor is started to cause the rollers at the top of the table to roll against the bottom of the sheet 24 under the weight of the patients body so as to exert a massaging action on the contacting portions thereof. The amplitude or intensity of the massage can be controlled by the tension in the sheet 24. If this sheet is exceedingly tight, it will support the major portion of the weight of the body so that very light contact is made with the rollers, whereas if the sheet is exceedingly loose, the weight of the patients body rests entirely on the massage rollers so that the latter exert a maximum massaging action thereon.

If it is. desired to intensify the massaging ac-- tion on the mid-portion of the patient, the lever 23 is moved to elevate the pressure Wheels 20 to create a convex portion in the sheet 24 below the mid-portion of the patient.

The action of the massage rollers in traveling toward the foot of the table has a tendency to work the body of the patient toward the foot of the table. This is over-come by means of a foot rest 35 against which the patient may brace his feet to hold his body in place.

Means are also provided for massaging the feet if so desired. The latter consists of a pair of roller wheels 36 secured on a horizontal wheel shaft 31, which is supported above the table on suitable brackets 38 intermediate the foot rests 35. A plurality of freely rotatable foot rollers 39 extend between the peripheries of the two wheels 36. The wheels 36 and their rollers are contained within a suitable housing 46 at the foot of the table. The front of the housing is covered with a sheet 4| of flexible material which is stretched over and conceals the rollers 39. The patient may place his feet against this sheet 4| over the rollers 39 to obtain a foot message therefrom, or he may simply rest his feet against the foot rest 35 at each side of the rollers 39. The wheels 36 are driven from, and in an opposite direction to, the countershaft 34 by means of a crossed belt 42.

The adjusting lever 23 may be latched in any desired position by means of a locking sector 45 having latch openings 46 to be selectively engaged by a suitable latch (not shown) on the lever 23 as is usual in lever and locking sector constructions.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

upper reach of each belt; levers supporting said wheels; manually operated means for swinging said levers to raise or lower said wheels for raising or lowering the middle portions of the upper reaches of said belts as desired; and means for driving said belts.

2. A massage table comprising: a tablelike frame; a pair of laterally extending, parallel, spaced-apart shafts supported adjacent the top of said frame; a pair of belt pulleys on each of said shafts; endless belts extending between the respective pulleys of the adjacent shafts; roller shafts secured at their extremities to the belts and extending in parallel relation therebetween; a freely rotatable roller mounted on each roller shaft; idler wheels positioned between the middle portions of the upper reaches of said belts; and levers supporting said Wheels; a rotatable shaft to which said levers are secured; a hand lever secured to said last mentioned shaft for rotating the latter for raising and lowering said idler wheels to force said reaches upwardly and downwardly; and means for driving said belts.

3. In a massage table of the type having a plurality of parallel, horizontal rollers supported between a pair of traveling belts across the top of the table, means for adjustably supporting the mid-section of said belts comprising: a relatively large idler wheel beneath the midsection of each belt; adjustable supporting means for said idler wheels; and a hand-operated lever for adjusting said supporting means to cause the latter to lift said belts upward at their wheel-engaging portions to cause said rollers to follow the natural arch of a patients back.

4. In a massage table of the type having a plurality of parallel, horizontal rollers supported between a pair of traveling belts across the top 

